What the president should have said in his annual State of the Union speech was that he would introduce a new era of freedom from big government in the United States of American. But he didn’t. Instead, he told a joint session of Congress and millions of Americans watching the speech that the U.S. needs to spend more and go deeper into debt. He never once mentioned the kinds of reforms that are needed to rescue our nation from financial collapse and restore the principles of our Constitution.
What the president should have said was this:
“I made a big mistake shoving Obamacare down the throats of the American people. I realize a majority of the people don’t like it, and a majority of the states are refusing to implement the state health insurance exchanges. I have heard your voices. I will, therefore, recommend to the Congress that we repeal the Affordable Care Act and begin to replace it with common-sense, market-oriented reforms. The states should take a lead in this effort, and I’d like us to leave it up to the states to act, since this is more properly a state matter.
“Tonight, I am announcing further steps to scale back the size and scope of the federal government. I urge the Congress to begin by reforming automatic spending programs, such as Social Security and Medicare, which will go bankrupt if we do nothing.”
“In the past, I made promises to a range of progressive special interest groups, which benefit when government grows. And I admit I have never been comfortable with the limits on federal power that the Founders put into our Constitution. My parents lived most of their adult lives in other countries and my grandparents, who were left-wing radicals, introduced me to a Marxist mentor when I was very young. These folks didn’t educate me about the Constitution, and law school didn’t help me very much with the Constitution either. My election as president was my chance to bring European-style state socialism to America, and I’ve worked hard to do that. But I think we can all see that it’s been a bust.
“Several groups of citizens have enlightened me on the meaning of our Constitution, based on the ideas of our Founders. Their arguments are sound, and I urge our fellow citizens to educate themselves so they make better decisions at the polls next time they vote.
“I will ask the Congress to return to the states the responsibilities that are not expressly delegated to the federal government by our Constitution, as the 10th Amendment says. This includes highway programs, with the exception of retaining the ability to move our troops, which is a national defense priority. It also would include a host of education and social welfare programs that the federal government is not authorized to operate anywhere in the Constitution. The federal government should operate the federal courts, manage the military, protect our borders, ensure a uniform system of weights and measures and guarantee the free flow of commerce among the states. Beyond this, we should have a discussion. I’ve come to realize that many of the programs we run out of Washington have no justification in our Constitution at all. The Founders meant for most of the powers of government to be exercised by the states.
“I have also realized that the office of president was designed to faithfully execute the laws, as Article II, Section 3, of the Constitution says. I have been too presumptive and arrogant in trying to establish policy in the executive branch, which really is the responsibility of Congress. I hope you all will forgive me. Going forward, policy by executive fiat will stop. But I’m going to need the members of Congress to step up to the plate and carry out YOUR responsibility of establishing sound policies, instead of squabbling among yourselves. And you need to pass a budget on time every year, and quit hiding behind all of those continuing resolutions. It’s time to get some backbone and do the right thing.
“For those members of Congress who need some help in understanding your responsibilities, I suggest you read the Constitution. It’s not that difficult to understand, and if you have trouble with it, take a look at The Federalist Papers, to get a sense of what the Founders meant. We need to restore our republic, but it won’t happen unless some of you folks do a little more homework.
“To get us started on a clear budget path, I am endorsing Chairman Ryan’s budgets, which have been passed by the House on several occasions. My only recommendation, since the Constitution gives me the power to recommend legislation, is that you folks in the House look for additional ways to cut spending by the federal government in a way that we can have a “soft landing” and move more of these programs to the states. And you should also simplify our personal income tax system by converting it to a flat income tax, with very few deductions. Or you could abolish the income tax altogether and convert to a consumption tax. Finally, you should eliminate the corporate income tax, which is really nothing more than another tax on consumers, small business owners and stockholders.
“The House should drive this effort, since the Constitution gives the House the power to begin all bills for raising revenue. You folks in the Senate, get some backbone and pass the House’s bills when they come to you.
“And one other thing. I’m getting off this ‘global warming” kick. I’ve come to realize that the science behind this is a bunch of hogwash. The evidence that human activity has cause the planet to get warmer has no basis scientifically. While there is some evidence that temperatures have been elevated at times in the past 10 years or so, we have also had recent periods of cooling. This is nothing new. Throughout its geological history, the earth has had periods of warming and cooling. A few years of warming is not a trend when you look at data from thousands of years.
“Therefore, I am recommending to the Congress that we discontinue the short-sighted program of subsidies for so-called “green energy.” These well-meaning but failed programs haven’t worked, so why hold onto them? Frankly, we do a terrible job of picking winners and we shouldn’t be doing that anyway. Contrary to what many of my left-wing advisors have counseled in the past, these slush funds that have propped up companies like Solyndra are a failure. Again, I apologize for being blinded so long by my left-wing ideology. I’m going to put more faith in the free-market system that made our nation the most prosperous on earth. I hope my Democratic colleagues will follow my lead on this.
“To this end, my administration will open up more public lands—in the west and off our shores—to develop domestic energy resources. I am approving the Keystone pipeline, as the first of many decisions to lead an American energy renaissance.
“I know many of you see these moves as a radical departure from what I have supported in the past. But after much soul-searching, I have reached the conclusion that no matter how well-intended my previous actions have been, they just don’t work. To continue down the current path would be just plain foolish, and I want to be remembered as a gifted and talented guy. I’m sure you members of Congress share a desire for similar accolades. After all, we’re politicians.
“So let’s all get on board and pursue a course that should really work this time. Heck, everything we’ve tried up to this point has been a bust. We may as well try something that has a chance of success.”
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